The Church’s Role in Missions

Scripture Passage:

Acts 14:26-28

INTRODUCTION: What Foolish Nonsense? – “When commerce had been established with the Fiji islanders, a merchant who was an atheist and skeptic landed on the island to do business. He was talking to the Fiji chief and noticed a Bible and some other paraphernalia of religion around the house. ‘What a shame,’ he said, ‘that you have listened to this foolish nonsense of the missionaries.’

“The chief replied, ‘Do you see the large white stone over there? That is a stone where just a few years ago we used to smash the heads of our victims to get at their brains. Do you see that large oven over there? That is the oven where just a few years ago we used to bake the bodies of our victims before we feasted upon them. Had we not listened to what you call the nonsense of those missionaries, I assure you that your head would already be smashed on that rock and your body would be baking in that oven.” –from Revolution in World Missions by K. P. Yohannan (pages 111-112).

As a Teaching Center

The church is headquarters for world missions

Expose the members to world missions

Have missionaries present their work to the church

Returning missionaries that you already support

New missionaries who are on deputation

Missionaries on furlough who you do not support

Make missions visible in the church building

Put up missionary letters

Put up a missionary map

Use other displays

Present missions to the people

Teach and preach about missions

Pray for your missionaries

Have a missionary spotlight

Have a missionary conference or missionary emphasis month

Teach your people to give to missions

Take up special offerings for missionaries or mission projects

Have a special missions account and special giving for missions

As a Training Ground (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
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Recognize that missionaries come from local churches

Pray that God would send some out from your church

Prepare your youth for possible work in missions

By teaching about missions

By exposing to missionaries

By challenging them to the needs of missions

By taking them on a missionary trip

Be ready to train those who have surrendered to missions in the church

As a Sending Church

Help support missionaries sent out from other churches

Encourage and help your members who surrender to the mission field

Be willing to be a sending church

Commission and/or ordain the missionary

Support their work with a greater amount than you give to missionaries from outside your church

Do not forget them when they are on the field

In a Supporting Role

Help your missionaries in any way you can while they are on deputation

Send letters and packets to them while they are on the field

These contacts mean a lot; remember birthdays, anniversaries and American holidays

Most missionaries are forgotten by their home church after they have been on the field for a few months

Visit them on the field

Send your pastor

Encourage others to visit

Keep the lines of communication open

Send church tapes and printed material

Write or e-mail them

Call them on occasion

Recognize the missionaries out of your church as an extension of your church’s work and ministry

They are still members of your church and are representatives of your church on the field

Initially, those they baptize are technically baptized into your church (there are exceptions to this practice).

Churches planted by your missionaries are churches planted by your church

This should create a very special relationship between the sending church and pastor and the missionary. Unfortunately, this relationship is often ignored.

Continue to pray for your missionaries and hold them up to the Lord

In a Direct Role

The world of modern transportation and communications has made it possible for churches to directly come to the aid of missionary efforts in other parts of the world.

Short-term missions

Evangelization trips

Building trips

Note: Americans often spend thousands of dollars on hobbies like car restoration and pleasure trips. The same money spent on short-term missions would bring as much pleasure and accomplish much more in eternal terms.

Mission assistance activities; these can include a multitude of activities that can use many secular skills in order to give aid to the missionaries on the field.

Travel agents for missionaries

Insurance for missionaries

Printing Bibles and other materials for missionaries

Shipping services for missionaries

Preparation of missionary displays, video presentations, etc.

Note: there is no limit on the assistance that could make the work of a missionary more effective. Find out what makes the work of a missionary harder and match that with your skills. You may be able to help them in a special way. This is a great opportunity for retired people.

Direct witnessing and training using modern communication methods (Psalm 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
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Internet sites

Satellite television

Radio

Note: these are ideas, but there are many other ways individuals and churches can get involved in the work of worldwide missions.

CONCLUSION: Power of the Published Word – “Just before China was taken over by the communists, one communist officer made a revealing statement to a missionary, John Meadows. ‘You missionaries have been in China for over a hundred years, but you have not won China to your cause. You lament the fact that there are uncounted millions who have never heard the name of your God. Nor do they know anything of your Christianity. But we communists have been in China less than 10 years, and there is not a Chinese who does not know… has not heard the name of Stalin… or something of communism… we have filled China with our doctrine.

“ ‘Now let me tell you why you have failed and we have succeeded,’ the officer continued. ‘You have tried to win the attention of masses by building churches, missions, mission hospitals, schools, and what not. But we communists have printed our message and spread our literature all over China. Someday we will drive you missionaries out of our country, and we will do it by the means of the printed page.’

“Today, of course, John Meadows is out of China. The communists were true to their word. They won China and drove out the missionaries. Indeed, what missionaries failed to do in a hundred years, the communists did in ten. One Christian leader said that if the church had spent as much time on preaching the Gospel as it did on hospitals, orphanages, schools and rest homes—needful though they were—the Bamboo Curtain would not exist today. The tragedy of China is being repeated today in other countries. When we allow a mission activity to focus on the physical needs of man without the correct spiritual balance, we are participating in a program that ultimately sends people to hell.” –from Revolution in World Missions by K. P. Yohannan (pages 117-118). See Psalm 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
See All...; Acts 5:28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
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